Micronutrient malnutrition is a global health issue and needs immediate attention. Over two billion people across the globe suffer from micronutrient malnutrition. The widespread zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils, poor zinc intake by humans in their diet, low bioavailability, and health consequences has led the research community to think of an economic as well as sustainable strategy for the alleviation of zinc deficiency. Strategies like fortification and diet supplements, though effective, are not economical and most people in low-income countries cannot afford them, and they are the most vulnerable to Zn deficiency. In this regard, the biofortification of staple food crops with Zn has been considered a useful strategy. An agronomic biofortification approach that uses crop fertilization with Zn-based fertilizers at the appropriate time to ensure grain Zn enrichment has been found to be cost-effective, easy to practice, and efficient. Genetic biofortification, though time-consuming, is also highly effective. Moreover, a Zn-rich genotype once developed can also be used for many years without any recurring cost. Hence, both agronomic and genetic biofortification can be a very useful tool in alleviating Zn deficiency.

• Klíčová slova
• agronomic biofortification, genetic biofortification, malnutrition, micronutrient, zinc,
• MeSH
• biofortifikace metody   MeSH
• fortifikované potraviny normy   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nutriční stav MeSH
• podvýživa dietoterapie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• průmyslová hnojiva analýza   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny genetika   MeSH
• zinek chemie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• průmyslová hnojiva MeSH
• půda MeSH
• zinek MeSH

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element in human nutrition. The concentration of Zn in cereals, which is a staple food in developing countries, is often too low thus contributing to Zn malnutrition in nearly two billion people worldwide. We have reported recently that transgenic barley plants expressing a cytokinin-degrading CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE (CKX) gene in their roots form a larger root system and accumulate a higher concentration of Zn in their grains when grown under greenhouse conditions. Here, we have tested this trait under field conditions. Four independent pEPP:CKX lines accumulated an up to 30% higher Zn concentration in their grains as compared to the untransformed control suggesting that this is a stable trait. The increased Zn concentration exceeded the limit set by the HarvestPlus program for wheat. We, therefore, propose that root enhancement achieved by increased degradation of cytokinin in roots can be a sustainable strategy to combat malnutrition caused by Zn deficiency.

• Klíčová slova
• Barley, Hordeum vulgare, biofortification, cereals, cytokinin, cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase, root system architecture, zinc,
• MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• ječmen (rod) genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• jedlá semena genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• oxidoreduktasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• zinek metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokinin oxidase MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokininy MeSH
• oxidoreduktasy MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny MeSH
• zinek MeSH